Post-Covid cruising in Greece

After two and a half years John Woolf returns to his Carambola 38 in Greece and spends three weeks getting her seaworthy again

Having motored my yacht, Celestine, a Carambola 38, across the width of Europe, by river and canal, in 2019, I left her up on the hard in Mangalia, Romania. I departed for New Zealand certain in the knowledge that I'd be back the next year to step the mast and sail her to Turkey, through the Bosporus Strait, to spend a leisurely season cruising northern Aegean waters.

That was over two and a half years ago. My plans had turned to ash, along with the movements of millions of others around the world as the Covid-19 pandemic brought society to a standstill.

When the pandemic hit, I'd emailed Luca, who managed the yard where Celestine was being stored, saying I wanted to extend the lease for another year. Luca, sensing he had me at an extreme disadvantage, emailed back saying that this 'was possible and that the rent would now be € 600 per month. He was increasing the rent by almost five times! The room swayed before my eyes on reading this, and I had to grip the edge of the desk to steady myself. Sleep was not possible that night, and I saw every hour on the clock.

Happily, Team Celestine rallied round. A boatyard, Tsoukas Marine, was found in Porto Lagos, northern Greece who prepared to take the boat at a reasonable hardstand fee. A transport company was engaged, and Celestine made the journey by road to the boatyard in Greece.

Having a boat transported without being there, or at least being set up for transport, is the stuff of nightmares involving unsecured lockers and drawers spewing their contents onto the cabin sole.

In the event, arriving in Porto Lagos in early May this year with Dave Fisher, who had come along for the adventure and possessed significant boatbuilding skills, spotting Celestine in a fenced paddock was a huge relief. She looked neglected and dirty but otherwise intact.